Magnetically controlled friction clutch



y 1951 I A. P. WARNER 2,555,215

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED mono: CLUTCH Filed May 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l dlvthuv' QW knew- May 29, 1951 A. P. WARNER 2,555,215

MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED FRICTION CLUTCH Filed May 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNvmsw-rok O fkuv- Wow-new ChTTOMBYL/ Patented May 29, i951 MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED FRICTION CLUTCH Arthur P. Warner, Beloit, Wis.

Application May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,273

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to friction clutches of the type in which the force for engaging the main friction clutch is derived from the rotation of the driving clutch element by exerting a magnetically derived drag on a part which normally rotates with said driving element but is rotatable rela-. tive to the latter to cause the engaging action. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a drag type clutch in which the main friction clutch is normally disengaged and is engaged by the action of a cam in response to the energization of a nonrotatable magnetic friction element which grips and produces a drag on a normally rotatable coacting friction element. After the latter element has turned relative to the driving member far enough to engage the main clutch, the magnetic friction elements slip relative to each other While remaining under the magnetic gripping force until it is desired to release the main clutch.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a drag clutch of the above character incorporating a novel and efficient cam actuator by which wear on the drag producing elements is reduced to a minimum.

The invention also resides in the novel arrangement of the actuating and. drag producing elements to contribute simplicity of construction and over-all compactness to the clutch unit as a whole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal diametrical cross section of a clutch embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of a part of Fig. 1 with the parts in clutch actuated position.

Fig 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4- of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of part of the cam actuator.

The invention is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration embodied in a clutch or coupling of the multiple disk friction type for transmitting rotary power from a driving element such as a shaft ID to a driven element such as a shaft II. The latter is alined with the driver which is journaled in suitable bearings in a stationary support l2 and has a reduced outer end 13 journaled in a bearing in the driven shaft II.

The main or multiple disk clutch 9 has a plurality of plates or disks I4, I 5, l6, and I1 arranged coaxially and composed of suitable metal or friction material. The disks l4, l5, and [6 are splined onto a toothed portion I8 of the driving shaft [0, and the disks l4 and I5 are urged apart by a plurality of annularly spaced compression springs l9. A nut 20 screwed onto the shaft l0 forms a rigid backing for the terminal disk 14. The driven shaft II is integral with the centers of a bell-shaped casing 2| whose outer cylindrical flange 22 encloses the clutch disks and is intern ally splined to mesh with the disks l1.

Journaled on an antifriction bearing 23 on the driving shaft II] is an actuating disk 26 disposed adjacent to but axially spaced from the terminal clutch disk IS. The bearing 23 is of the thrust type and is backed by a shoulder 25 on the drive shaft. Thus, the actuating disk 26 may rotate with the driving shaft II] but is adapted to turn relative thereto in either direction away from a normal clutch-released position.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel and extremely elficient force augmenting connection 2! is provided for converting the angular motion of the disk 26 relative to the driving shaft l0 into axial movement of the terminal clutch plate [5 thereby compressing the driving and driven clutch plates [4 and I5 together to engage the main clutch 9.

This connection includes a plurality, three in this instance, of concentric grooves in the axial face of the disk 26 having surfaces 28 transversely curved to receive and fit quite closely around one side of hardened balls 29, each surface sloping gradually and circumferentially in opposite directions from a low point 30 to a high point 3 I. These points are spaced approximately a half revolution apart in this instance in order to provide for actuation of the main clutch by angular displacement of the actuating disk in either direction away from the released position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slope of each groove surface is identical so that all of the balls 29 will be advanced equal axial distances for a given angular displacement of the actuating disk 26. Preferably, though not necessarily, the outer or opposing face of the clutch disk I5 is similarly grooved and sloped to form cam surfaces 32 adapted to receive and fit around the opposite sides of the balls 29 and duplicate the surfaces 28 in diameter, size, slope, and positions of the high and low points. It will be apparent that the ball engaging surfaces on one of the disks may, if desired, be made fiat in which case provision would be made for holding the balls in a predetermined relation with respect to the other disk.

The high and low points 30 and 3| of the successively smaller grooves 28 are angularly spaced 120 degrees apart and the balls 29 are held in similarly spaced relation by a cage 33 so that the balls engage corresponding portions of the difierentcam surfaces 28 and 32 in the different angular. positionst'of the actuating. disk; Thus, all of the balls always lie in a common plane which is shifted axially and progressively in the clutch engaging direction as the disk 26 is turned away from the clutch releasedi position. inzwhiclr: the balls are disposed at the low points of the: cam surfaces as shown in Fig. 1. In the reverse turning of the actuating disk 26, the balls ride down the slopes of the cams; permitting the:

clutch disk I to move in the clutch-releasing direction, that is, to the right as viewed in Fig: 1'. Such reverse turning occurs whenever the disk 26 is-f-re'e and is produced by the: springs Id: of. the main clutch acting back-wardl'y through the antifrictioncam connection just described.

The present invention contemplates the applicationof a magnetically derived frictiondrag to tlie'normally rotating" actuatordisk 2cm hold the latter back relative to the drive shaft H3 and thus produce-relative rotation between the cam disks for causing energizationof the main clutch. Preferably", this drag is produced by axial gripping engagement of the elements 35' and 35 of a pilot friction clutch 36 which are drawn together by magnetic attraction in response to" energization of a stationarily'mounted coil 3 1 Herein-,themagnet ring 3E5 is concentric with the-clutch axis and is secured asby screws 38 to the support I2 It is composed of'magneti'c material and is U'-shaped in cross section toreceive the coil'3l and provide concentric pole pieces which terminate in inner and outer pole faces 39 lying in a common plane" and flush with segments 40 of nonmagnetic friction material. The ring 34' is composed of magnetic material and spans thepole faces 39 so as to constitute an armature normally disposed close to and preferably in contact with the friction face of the magnet. To this end, the ring is rigid with an'gularly spaced pins M which project loosely into holes 42" in' the back of the actuator disk 26 thereby allowing some freedom of axial movement of the armature.

It will be apparent that when the coil 31 is deenergized,v the armature ring 35 Will be free to turn with. the disk 26 which is held. in clutch released position (Figs. 1 and 2) by the action of the. springs. 9. The disk and armature thus turn. with. the. driving shaft Ill and, the main clutch. 9 remains released. Now, when the coil is energized, the rings 34 and 3.5 are. draw-n together under aforce proportional to. the magnitude. of the energizing. current. The frictionally derived torque. thus exerted: on the actuator disk 26- holds: the latter back causing relative angular displacement. between the disks l5 and 26.. In this movement, the balls 23 ride up-the cam inclines and thus Wedge the disks and 2-6- apart until the clearance between the plates of the main clutch has been taken. up. Thereuponthe clutch rings 34 and 35 start to slip relative to each other, but the magnetically derived drag continues to be applied to the disk 26 so that theplates of the main clutch are compressed under an axially directed force determined by the degree of energization of the mag- 4 net and the extremely high mechanical advantage with which the cam actuator operates.

The axial pressure exerted on the main clutch and therefore the torque transmitted by the latter may be varied as desired by changing the energization of the magnet coil thereby producing a corresponding change in the friction drag on the actuator disk 26. When the magnet is fully deenergized,,the disk 26 is freed and will-.be turned reverselyback to released position; In this movement which is produced by the action of the springs [9, the balls 29 roll back down the cam inclines. andthus relieve the axial pressure on the main clutch plates.

The engaging and releasing action takes place in-the samemanner irrespective of the direction in which the; drive shaft I0 is turned. This is because, in the form shown, the cam surfaces risecircumferentially in opposite directions away from the low points 30. 7 By. mounting; the magnetring; 35: stationarily, the-usual commutating rings for conducting; cum rent to-the'coil 3.1 are not required andqnumerolls operating and maintenance difficulties arethereby. avoided. The use of astationarymagnet in the-drag typeclutches heretofore produced-has been: accompanied. by such rapid wearing of the pilot clutch. faces as. to render the clutch as. a whole impracticable from: a: standpoint of heavy duty service. This is due to the fact that. while the; main clutch is engaged, the pilot clutch; ele-- ments- 34 and 35 slip relative to each: other at the. main. clutch speed and under the magnetic attractive; force which: in a heavy duty clutch must be; of: substantial magnitude.

In. my-imprcved clutch as described ab0v.e, objectionable wearing off-v of the'pilot clutch faces is avoided evenduring heavy duty'ser-vice by con,- structing. the cam actuator for amplificationqof the drag force with such a large mechanicalradvantage: that. the maximum axialpressuref between the pilot clutch elements 34- and 35-will be so'smallas to; enable the-frictionY faces to with,- standlong periodsof service usewithout replacement. This is made possible bymaking the cam surfaces-18erdiiferent sizes so that each; may be: of substantial arcuate extent, that; 15:, about 18.0: degrees inthe-case of a reversing clutchg and BSD-degrees: in the case of a unidirectional, clutch: Over such substantial arcs, the slopes of the, cam surfaces. may be made so; very; small: that, an extremely great mechanical advantage may be achieved and this withoutv detracting: from; the ability of the actuator to efiectrprompt: and-full release of the clutch in response, to deencrg'izationofthedrag; producing magnet.v This; latter. action is achieved through the use; of the: balls 29 as the antifriction elements therebyeliminating rubbing friction between the parts of the cam actuator which thusv responds quickly to, the force of the springs t9 as soon, as the magnet is deenergized;

I claim as my invention:

A- frictiondrag clutch comprising rotary driving and driven members, a friction clutch hav ing axially engageable. friction elements mounted on said. members including an axiallyshiftable terminal disk, a second disk axially spaced from said first disk'and mounted on said driving memher for rotation relative thereto, at least three arcuateaxially facing cam surfaces of different diameters but of equal axial pitch formed on the inner face of one of said disks concentric with the disk axis, three balls respectively" riding said three surfaces and the opposed face of the other 2,666,216 5 6 of said disks, a cage disposed between said disks magnet ring stationarily mounted and having a and retaining said balls in uniform angularly friction face adapted for axial gripping engagespaced relation, said surfaces having low points mentjjjwith said ring face when the magnet is angularly spaced equal distances apart around energized'whereby to produce a friction dragon the disk to correspond to the spacing of said balls 6 saidfsecon'd disk.- and gradually sloping circumferentially in one I s ARTHUR WARNER- direction through more than 120 degrees whereby to wedge said disks apart in response to turning I REFERENCES CITED of said second disk in one direction relative to The following references are of record in the the first disk, a thrust bearing backing said sec- 10 file of this patent: ond disk, spring means urging said first disk UNITED STATES PATENTS axially toward said second disk and operable through the medium of said balls to turn the disk Number Name Date toward and return thesame to released posi- 2,061,737 Warner 24, 1936 tion in which said balls engage the low points 15 2,091,270 Colman 9 of said cam surfaces, an armature ring mounted F E N A E on said second disk for rotation therewith but a adapted to float axially relative thereto, said ring Number Country Date having a flat axially facing friction face, and a Great Britain 

